School violence topic of Syracuse University public forum

Experts will address concerns raised by Sandy Hook massacre

Jan 24, 2013
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Article by: Judy Holmes

The tragedy of Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Ct. has raised many questions about mental health, schools, and violence. In an effort to help parents, teachers, and others to better understand the issues, the Department of Psychology in Syracuse University’s College of Arts and Sciences will present “The Psychology of School Violence: Beyond Newtown” from 7 to 9 p.m. Monday, Feb. 11 in SU’s Watson Theater, located in the Robert B. Menschel Media Center, 316 Waverly Ave.

The forum is free and open to the public. Free parking for attendees is available in Booth Garage.

Panelists will address an array of topics including autism spectrum disorders, the stigmatization of mental illness, how to best predict violence, the profile of mass murderers, the protective factor of positive relationships, and school-based interventions to reduce violence.

Panelists include clinical psychologist Kevin Antshel; school psychologists Natalie Russo, Larry Lewandowski, Tanya Eckert, and Brian Martens; social psychologists Len Newman and Laura Vanderdrift; and special guest James Knoll, a forensic psychiatrist at Upstate Medical University, State University of New York.